68-Yokohama City's Fraudulent Export of Industrial Waste Disposal - From 1999 to the 2020s

68-Yokohama City's Fraudulent Export of Industrial Waste Disposal - From 1999 to the 2020s

Incident Uncovered in 1999
In 1999, a waste treatment company based in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, was found to have illegally exported approximately 3,000 tons of industrial waste to the Port of Subic in the Philippines. The waste contained construction waste containing toxic heavy metals such as asbestos, lead, and cadmium, which were not properly treated locally and could seriously affect the environment and the health of Philippine residents. Environmental groups in the Philippines protested strongly, and it was decided that the Japanese government would cooperate with the Philippine government to collect the waste and reprocess it in Japan.

The illegal export violated Japan's "Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law" and the international "Basel Convention," and the contractor was subject to severe penalties. The incident also led to a review of the management system for industrial waste in Japan, which resulted in stricter monitoring and tougher penalties for unauthorized exports.

Current Status and Impact in the 2020s
In the 2020s, the problem of illicit export of industrial waste remains a global issue. In Japan, waste management systems have been strengthened in response to the 1999 illegal export incident in Yokohama, and cooperation in waste management, especially with Asian countries, is becoming increasingly important. In recent years, in addition to the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have also been facing problems with the illicit export of hazardous waste from Japan and other countries.

In 2021, a Kanagawa Prefecture company was found to have illegally exported approximately 1,500 tons of industrial waste containing lead and cadmium to Indonesia. Due to a lack of local processing capacity, there were concerns about the leakage of toxic substances into rivers and soil, and health hazards to residents were reported. The Indonesian government, in cooperation with the Japanese government, took measures to recover the illegally exported waste and reprocess it in Japan.

Furthermore, in 2022, a major Japanese electronics manufacturer, Toshiba Corporation, was in trouble for improper disposal of industrial waste, and it was found that approximately 2,500 tons of waste had been illegally exported to China and Vietnam. This incident was a violation of the Basel Convention, and a review of international regulations is urgently needed.

Technological Innovation and Future Prospects
In 2023, a tracking system for industrial waste will be introduced in Japan, allowing real-time monitoring of waste from generation to final disposal. Companies are also being urged to develop technologies to reduce their environmental impact, and innovations in waste treatment technology are underway. Large companies such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are working to develop plasma technology aimed at detoxifying hazardous substances, and technology to break down hazardous substances such as asbestos, lead, and cadmium is expected to be developed.

Thus, while awareness of and technology for industrial waste treatment continues to evolve in Japan and abroad, the key to the future will be collaboration, especially with Asian countries, and the establishment of waste treatment systems based on international cooperation.